Maharashtra Government today published finalised rules of the Housing Regulatory Authority, which will start functioning from the next month.

The Authority has been set up under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, whose chief purpose is to safeguard the interests of flat-buyers.

As the rules are now in place, the Authority will start operating from May 1, said a government official.

As per the rules, any penalty or compensation imposed on a promoter/builder or a real estate agent (for duping a flat buyer, etc.) shall be recovered in the manner prescribed by Maharashtra Land Revenue Code.

The Authority will be a quasi-judicial body, and its order will be enforced as if it is an order of a civil court.

If the Authority can't enforce an order, it will be referred to the principal civil court, which will execute it.

The minimum penalty for errant builder will be five per cent of the estimated cost of the project. It can extend up 10 per cent of such cost.

The Authority will have the powers to summon witnesses for the purpose of conducting inquiry into complaints.

Under the Act, builders will have to register every housing project with the Authority, which will publish a list of approved projects on its website for the benefit of buyers.

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